Isabella Carter
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XIX, was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920. The amendment prohibits the United States and its states from denying any citizen the right to vote based on sex, effectively recognising women's right to vote. The Nineteenth Amendment was the culmination of a decades-long women's suffrage movement in the United States, which faced fierce resistance and required tireless campaigning, protests, and agitation to achieve this milestone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) |
| Year of ratification | 1920 |
| Date of ratification | August 18, 1920 |
| Date of proposal | April 1917 |
| Date approved by Congress | June 4, 1919 |
| Number of states that ratified the amendment | 36 |
| Last state to ratify the amendment | Tennessee |
| Purpose | To prohibit the United States and its states from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex |
| Previous related events | The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878 |
| Previous related events | Wyoming became the first state to guarantee women the right to vote in 1890 |
| Previous related events | By 1912, nine western states had adopted women's suffrage legislation |
| Previous related events | In 1916, almost all major suffrage organizations united behind the goal of a constitutional amendment |
| Previous related events | In 1918, President Wilson endorsed women's suffrage in his State of the Union address |
| Previous related events | The Nineteenth Amendment was proposed with wording identical to the Fifteenth Amendment, except it prohibited the denial of the right to vote on the basis of sex |
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What You'll Learn
Women's right to vote
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XIX, prohibits the federal government and the states from denying citizens their right to vote on the basis of sex, effectively protecting women's right to vote. The amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, when Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it.
The journey to women's suffrage was a long and arduous one, dating back to the mid-19th century when women began organizing, petitioning, and picketing to win the right to vote. The women's rights movement gained momentum at the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention in New York, and the women's suffrage movement picked up steam during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War. Early advocates for women's suffrage, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, brought the issue to federal court, arguing that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments guaranteed voting rights for women. Despite their efforts, the Supreme Court rejected their justification.
In 1878, a constitutional amendment to enshrine women's suffrage for all elections was introduced in Congress. It was reintroduced in subsequent Congresses but faced strong opposition and was rejected multiple times. During this period, some states granted limited voting rights to women, with Wyoming becoming the first state to guarantee women the right to vote in 1890. However, it became clear that an amendment to the federal Constitution was necessary to secure universal suffrage for women.
The struggle for women's suffrage involved lectures, writing, marches, lobbying, and civil disobedience. Suffragists employed various tactics, including picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes, often facing fierce resistance, heckling, jail time, and physical abuse. The movement gained significant traction in 1917 when President Woodrow Wilson endorsed women's suffrage in his State of the Union address. The following year, in 1918, the ""Anthony Amendment", named after Susan B. Anthony, was reintroduced in the House and Senate. Protests outside the White House continued, with 168 protesters arrested and imprisoned in Lorton, Virginia.
The Nineteenth Amendment's ratification in 1920 marked a significant milestone in the fight for women's rights, but it did not immediately benefit all women. While white women gained the right to vote, women of colour, particularly in the South, continued to face systemic racism and discriminatory policies that prevented them from exercising their voting rights. It would take several more decades for women of colour to fully realise the promise of the Nineteenth Amendment.
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The Susan B. Anthony Amendment
The Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, was a landmark victory for women's suffrage in the United States. The amendment, which was ratified on August 18, 1920, states that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.
The journey towards the Nineteenth Amendment began in the mid-19th century when women's suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practised civil disobedience to achieve what many considered a radical change to the Constitution. The National Woman Suffrage Association, founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1869, played a pivotal role in this movement. They brought the issue to federal court, arguing that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments guaranteed voting rights to women, but the Supreme Court rejected their justification.
Despite setbacks and opposition, the women's suffrage movement persisted. In 1878, a constitutional amendment was introduced in Congress that would enshrine women's suffrage for all elections. It was reintroduced in subsequent Congresses, reflecting the determination of suffragists. Wyoming became a state in 1890 and guaranteed women the right to vote in its constitution. This spurred other states to follow suit, with 23 states granting women full or partial voting rights by 1919.
In 1914, the Senate considered the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, proposed by Sargent, but it was rejected. However, the tide began to turn in 1917 when President Woodrow Wilson endorsed women's suffrage in his State of the Union address. The amendment was reintroduced in the House and Senate in April 1917, and after a long struggle, it passed both chambers in May and June 1919.
The Nineteenth Amendment was officially ratified on August 18, 1920, when Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it. This historic achievement guaranteed American women the right to vote and marked a significant step forward in the fight for gender equality in the United States. However, it is important to note that the amendment's impact was not immediate for women of colour, as they continued to face systemic racism and discriminatory voting policies in many states.
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The fight for women's suffrage
The nineteenth amendment to the US Constitution guarantees that the right to vote cannot be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex. It was the culmination of a long and arduous struggle by women to secure the right to vote, a battle that began in the mid-19th century. The women's suffrage movement was sparked by the broader issue of women's rights, which gained momentum in the 1800s. Early women's rights advocates like Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who organized the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, demanded equal treatment for women, including the right to vote. This convention is often cited as the birth of the women's rights movement in the US.
The movement gained traction in the latter half of the century, with Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone becoming prominent leaders in the fight for women's suffrage. They faced significant opposition, often from other women who felt that voting was not a necessary or desirable activity for ladies. Despite these challenges, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was formed in 1890, providing a more centralized and coordinated effort to the movement. NAWSA focused on a state-by-state campaign to obtain voting rights for women, and by 1916, they had achieved success in eleven states.
As the movement grew, so did the opposition, with anti-suffrage groups arguing that women did not need the vote to effect change and that their involvement in politics would corrupt their moral integrity. However, suffragists persisted, employing a variety of tactics to make their voices heard. They organized massive parades, held silent vigils outside the White House, and engaged in civil disobedience, facing arrests and force-feedings during hunger strikes. One of the most famous instances of civil disobedience occurred in 1917 when members of the National Woman's Party, led by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, picketed the White House, holding banners demanding the right to vote. Many of these women were arrested and sent to prison, where they endured harsh conditions.
Finally, in 1919, Congress passed the nineteenth amendment, and it was sent to the states for ratification. The battle then shifted to gaining the necessary number of state ratifications. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the thirty-sixth state to ratify the amendment, ensuring its adoption. The victory was a result of the tireless efforts of suffragists, who had worked for decades to secure this fundamental right. The passage of the nineteenth amendment was a monumental step forward for women's rights in the United States, and it continues to stand as a testament to the power of democratic ideals and the ability to bring about peaceful change through persistent advocacy and activism.
The women's suffrage movement had a profound impact on the political and social landscape of the nation. It not only secured the voting rights of millions of women but also fostered a broader culture of political engagement and activism among women. The movement's success inspired women to pursue other political and social causes, including labor reforms, peace activism, and the fight for racial equality. The legacy of the nineteenth amendment and the women's suffrage movement is a reminder of the power of democratic participation and the ongoing struggle for equal rights for all Americans.
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Ratification of the amendment
The Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution, which guarantees women the right to vote, was ratified on August 18, 1920, by the 36th state legislature, Tennessee. The amendment was the culmination of a decades-long movement for women's suffrage in the United States, at both the state and national levels, and was part of the worldwide movement towards women's suffrage and the wider women's rights movement.
The journey towards the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment began in the mid-19th century, with several generations of women's suffrage supporters lecturing, writing, marching, lobbying, and practising civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change to the Constitution. In the 1800s, women organised, petitioned, and picketed to win the right to vote, but it took them decades to accomplish their purpose. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878 and was reintroduced in every Congress thereafter.
Between 1878 and 1890, the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association worked closely together to secure the ballot for women, with the latter focusing on obtaining amendments to that effect in the constitutions of various states. In 1890, the two organisations merged, and Wyoming became a state, thus becoming the first state whose constitution guaranteed women the right to vote. Over the next decade, several other states, all in the western part of the country, joined Wyoming. By 1912, nine western states had adopted women's suffrage legislation.
In 1914, the constitutional amendment proposed by Sargent, nicknamed the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment", was considered by the Senate and rejected. In April 1917, the "Anthony Amendment", which eventually became the Nineteenth Amendment, was reintroduced in the House and Senate. Picketing NWP members, nicknamed the "Silent Sentinels", continued their protests outside the White House. On July 4, 1917, police arrested 168 protesters, who were sent to prison in Lorton, Virginia. Some of these women, including Lucy Burns and Alice Paul, went on hunger strikes and were harshly treated by prison guards.
In 1918, President Wilson faced a difficult midterm election and was forced to confront the issue of women's suffrage directly. A year later, in May and June 1919, the amendment passed both the House and the Senate and was sent to the states for ratification. Tennessee provided the final ratification necessary by approving the amendment with 50 of 99 members of the Tennessee House of Representatives voting yes.
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The impact of the 19th Amendment
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was passed in 1920, prohibits the United States and its states from denying any citizen the right to vote on the basis of sex. This amendment was the culmination of a decades-long movement for women's suffrage in the United States, which was part of a broader women's rights movement.
The 19th Amendment had a significant impact on the political landscape in the United States, empowering women to pursue a wide range of political interests and run for office. It also had a broader impact on social welfare and legislative agendas.
Political Impact
The 19th Amendment dramatically changed the face of the American electorate, giving women the right to vote and empowering them to voice their concerns and seek office. This led to an increase in women's political participation and the election of women to political office. For instance, in 1924, Mary T. Norton of New Jersey became the first Democratic woman elected to Congress without being preceded by her husband.
However, the women's suffrage movement was not united, and race, class, and political beliefs often divided women. The 19th Amendment also had a complicated legacy regarding race. While it granted voting rights to all women, the focus was primarily on white women obtaining the vote, and there was a risk of turning away Southerners by including Black women in the Amendment. As a result, the movement faced a racial divide, and Black women had to seek membership in the "mainstream" white feminist movement.
Social Welfare Impact
The 19th Amendment also had an impact on social welfare legislation. Under pressure from national women's groups, Congress passed the Sheppard-Towner Maternity and Infancy Act in 1921, just one year after the Amendment's ratification. This Act provided federal funds for health education and nutrition services for mothers and babies, helping to lower infant mortality rates.
Legislative Impact
The 19th Amendment broadened policy priorities in Congress. With more women voting and participating in politics, elected officials had to address a wider range of issues, including those that had previously been neglected, such as social welfare and educational opportunities for children.
In conclusion, the 19th Amendment was a milestone in the fight for equal rights for women in the United States, empowering women politically and socially. However, it also revealed the complexities of the movement, particularly regarding race and the ongoing struggle for equality.
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Frequently asked questions
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the United States and its states from denying the right to vote to citizens on the basis of sex, effectively recognising the right of women to vote.
The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified on 18 August 1920.
The Nineteenth Amendment legally guaranteed American women the right to vote. However, it did not eradicate the systemic racism that pervaded the South, and it would take several more decades for women of colour to gain the right to vote.
The women's rights movement began at the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention in New York, and the women's suffrage movement picked up during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878, and over the next few decades, several states granted women the right to vote. The Nineteenth Amendment was approved by Congress in 1919 and ratified in 1920.
The Nineteenth Amendment has been referenced in popular culture, including in the 2004 film Iron Jawed Angels and the 1976 song "Sufferin' Till Suffrage" from Schoolhouse Rock!.
